The Dance Party and More

The Dance Party!

Your wedding is essentially going to consist of two distinct parties. The first is the more relaxed cocktail and dinner party where wedding guests are socializing and not really paying attention to the music. During that period of time we can play anything you desire and we will work in any requests you have made that aren't necessarily dancible. During this portion of the evening the music is primarily background noise and helps to set the mood and tone for that portion of the evening.

Once dinner is wrapped up and we have gotten through the other formalities such as the cake cutting, toasts and special dances, it is then time for the dance party. This is where Remix Wedding DJs shine and we ask our clients to let us do what we do. We have spent years learning how to read a crowd and how to figure out which types of songs will work with what type of group. It is our ultimate goal to keep your guests on the dance floor all night. To do that we need the flexibility to play what we know will work. We ask that our clients give us the freedom to play various styles of music to appeal to all ages. We will certainly work in any requests that you have made, and we will make sure to skip any songs that you have put on your do not play list, in addition to skipping all the cliche played out cheesy songs like YMCA, Cotton Eyed Joe, We Are Family, Celebration, The Macarena, and The Electric Slide, etc. Below find some tips on how to make the most of your dance party:

1. Keep in mind that when it comes to the dance party portion of the night, if you want people to dance, you need to dance as well. Brides and grooms often don't realize that guests will follow them around. If you are at the bar or outside socializing, that is where guests are going to be as well. If you are on the dance floor, there will be more people on the dance floor. The more people on the dance floor the better, as a larger crowd on the dance floor will help encourage shy guests to join in.

2. Don't worry if the dance floor empties out for a little bit. There is always going to be an ebb and flow of people on the dance floor. People get thirsty and will head to the bar. Others will want to finish up conversations they started with other guests earlier in the evening. We will also be playing a mix of music to appeal to various age groups so different groups will be engaged by the music at different times. We will generally start the dance party with older music for the older guests. What will happen then, as the night goes on, older folks will leave, or go to the bar, and so the crowd on the dance floor will get younger, so the music will get newer. We will basically start with 50's, 60's & 70's music at the beginning of the dance party, and then move through the decades until we are into the current Top 40 by the end of the evening. This way we play a little bit of everything for everyone.

3. Make sure to save enough time to dance. When planning your timeline make sure you save enough time for dancing in the last half of the evening. When allocating time for the dance party we recommend allowing for at least 2 hours of dancing. If you allow for too little, the party will be over before it really gets hopping. Usually once the dance party starts people are still drinking, socializing, and letting there food digest. About an hour after the dance party starts is when we usually see the most people on the dance floor.

4. Opt for the dance floor lighting. We include lighting with all of our packages. It is optional and you can ask you DJ to not bring it if you really don't want it. If your going for a vintage theme for your wedding you may not want the dance floor lighting but keep in mind it does help to liven up the party and encourages guests to hit the dance floor. Also remember we won't turn the lighting on until the party really starts, so don't worry about strobe lights during dinner!

Group Dances and Sing-a-longs

Like it or not group dances and sing-a-longs are ways to bring people together at a wedding reception. Some people love them and some people hate them. I find younger brides and grooms want to avoid a lot of the cheese that are embodied by these songs. I find older bride's and groom's really like them. I recommend you consider if you would like some of the following to be part of your wedding reception or not. Below find a list of familiar and common group dance songs as well as sing-a-longs. You can specify these as must play, do not play, or play only if requested in the client portal. Your assigned mobile DJ will ask you about your feelings toward these songs during you final planning meeting. Group dance and line dance songs usually have set dance steps that most everyone will know, from your grandmother all the way down to your youngest relatives. Sing-a-longs are classic songs that most people know the words to. Peruse the list below and let us know if you would like these songs played at your wedding reception or avoided like the plague. Generally, we do not play most of these songs unless specifically requested by our clients, as we try to create unique events that are not cookie cutter weddings. The songs marked by an asterisk are songs that we generally do play.

The Bouquet and Garter Toss

For the bouquet and garter toss (should you decide that you want to do them) your WNC wedding DJ from Remix Weddings will conduct these activities in the most tactful and non cheesy way possible. Your DJ will have you as a couple come to the front of the dance floor. First you will do the Bouquet Toss and your DJ will ask that all the single ladies in attendance come to the dance floor while playing the song of your choice. Your DJ will then ask the groom to spin the bride in a circle a few times and will have the bride end the spinning facing the DJ and away from the awaiting ladies. Your DJ will then count to 3 and ask you to throw the bouquet at that point. If you are doing the garter pull/removal, the DJ will then ask the bride to have a seat in a chair (if you don't want to remove the garter in front of everyone, the groom can simply have the garter in his pocket.) He will then instruct the groom to remove the garter while playing the music of your choice. Your DJ will also ask the single gentlemen to the dance floor. Once the garter has been removed, your DJ will ask the bride to spin the groom in a circle a few times and then stop with the groom facing the DJ, away from the awaiting gentlemen. The DJ will then count to 3 and then ask the groom to fling, toss or throw the garter to the awaiting gentlemen. Once the garter toss is done, the DJ will ask the bouquet catcher and the garter catcher to join the bride and groom for a picture and the party will continue.

For the bouquet and garter toss we recommend one song for each activity. Please find some ideas below, but you can pretty much use anything for these activities.. These activities are a great time for unconventional songs to reflect your own personalities or songs that will bring back memories for your guests!

The Last Dance at Your Wedding Reception

The last dance of your wedding reception signals the end of the night. How you want to close your wedding reception is up to you and can go several ways. You could choose to go with a song that is up beat and that everyone will want to sing a long to Or you could go with something sweet and romantic to give everyone one last dance with their significant other. You could also go with something funny or goofy to give everyone a laugh at the end of your reception. What song you choose is up to you. After the last dance we will direct your guests to the send off area and provide instructions for the send off if there is going to be one. Here is a list of some traditional last dance songs, as well as some lighthearted less traditional songs.

Shut Up and Dance With Me- Walk The Moon

All My Life- KC and JoJo

Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen

See You Later Alligator-Bill Haley and His Comets
As Time Goes By-Various Artists
Hit the Road Jack-Ray Charles
I've Had the Time of My Life-Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
Friends in Low Places-Garth Brooks
Don't Stop Believin- Journey
Make You Feel My Love-Adele
Last Dance- Donna Summer
Closing Time-Semisonic
Faithfully- Journey
The Best is Yet to Come-Tony Bennett
How Sweet it is To Be Loved By You- James Taylor
With A Little Help From My Friends- The Beatles
All The Way- Frank Sinatra
I've Got The World On A String- Bing Crosby
Just The Two Of Us- Bill Withers
What A Wonderful World-Various Artists
When A Man Loves A Woman- Percy Sledge
Wonderful Tonight-Eric Clapton
A Little Less Conversation- Elvis Presley
At Last- Etta James
Forever-Chris Brown
We Are Young- Fun.
September- Earth, Wind, and Fire
Time After Time- Cyndi Lauper
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life- Stevie Wonder
Your Body Is Wonderland-John Mayer
I Don't Want To Miss A Thing- Aerosmith
The Luckiest- Ben Folds
Lean On Me- Bill Withers

The Send Off

After the last dance it is sadly the end of the evening leaving one last activity and that is the send off. Your DJ will coordinate with our photographer to send everyone outside (or wherever the need to go) and give them instructions for what to do when the get there (i.e. grab sparklers, bubbles, etc). After that you make your exit and you are on your way to your honeymoon! Usually there is no music during the send off as it is usually outside and the photographer usually needs to be able to yell instructions to the bride and groom as well as guests.